Global launch of A Call to Action: The Second Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing

A call to action: the global launch of the second Lancet commission on adolescent health and wellbeing will take place as an official side event to the World Health Assembly 2025.

📅 Date: Wednesday, May 21st, 2025
⏰ Time: 18:00 – 20:00 CEST
📍 Location: President Wilson Hotel Ballroom, Geneva

The investments made in this generation of adolescents will determine our human and planetary futures, for good or for ill. The time to act is now.

This is an in-person event with limited capacity. Please click the button below to complete the Expression of Interest (EOI) form to be considered for attendance. Submitting an EOI does not guarantee a spot; we will aim to confirm attendance the week of May 5 with rolling confirmations thereafter. Please ensure you have the appropriate visa for entry into Switzerland, as we are unable to assist with visa applications.

Simultaneous translations will be available in French and Spanish.

Agenda

At this global launch, Commissioners*, esteemed speakers and panel members will discuss the key findings and recommendations to ensure a more just society, and create a healthier and more productive planet. Panel discussions will be followed by Q&A from the audience.

Join a full panel of distinguished speakers, including

Ministry of Health Sierra Leone, HE Dr Austin Demby
Ministry of Health Ethiopia, HE Dr Alemayehu Hunduma Higi
Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General
Dr Richard Horton, Lancet Editor in Chief
Professor Sarah Baird*, Commission Chair, George Washington University
Dr Shakira Choonara*, Youth Commissioner
David Imbago*, Youth Commissioner, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation
Nikita Ghodke, Youth Advocate
Surabhi Dogra*, Youth Commissioner
Dr Sabine Kleinert, Lancet Deputy Editor

Event moderators:

Femi Oke, Award-winning International Journalist
Dr Prerna Banati*, Commissioner, Adolescent and Young Adult Health, Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, WHO headquarters

We strongly encourage in-person attendance. However, if you are unable to join us in Geneva, a livestream option will be available.

Please join us in promoting the launch event on your channels.

Launch countdown

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The report, A call to action: the second Lancet commission on adolescent health and wellbeing is based on research funded in part by the Gates Foundation, Exemplars in Global Health and Fondation Botnar. Any funds received directly support the work of the Commission and do not go to The Lancet Group.

The findings and conclusions contained within are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect positions or policies of the funders.

Global launch of A Call to Action: The Second Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing